Christmas pudding with citrus & spice

• each raisin175g g

  currants and sultanas

• whole glacé cherry↗140g g
• mixed peel↗50g g
• whole blanched almond↗50g g
• orange↗zest 1 zest 1

  and 1 lemon

• carrot↗1 medium

  peeled and finely grated

• brandy↗150ml ml
• orange↗50ml/2fl oz ml/2fl oz

  liqueur, such as Grand Marnier

• light muscovado sugar↗175g g
• fresh white breadcrumb↗175g g
• self-raising flour↗125g g
• mixed spice1 tsp tsp
• grated nutmeg↗¼ tsp ¼ tsp
• butter↗175g g

  frozen

• eggs↗2

  beaten

• butter↗

  for greasing

• holly

  sprig, to decorate

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Mix the fruit, almonds, citrus zests and the carrot with the brandy and orange liqueur in a large mixing bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight.

2. 2

   Mix all the dry ingredients together, then add to the soaked fruit mixture. Grate in the butter, then add the eggs and stir. Don’t forget to make a wish!

3. 3

   Grease a 1.5-litre pudding basin with butter and line the base with greaseproof paper. Spoon in the mixture, press down well and make a hollow with the back of the spoon in the centre. Cover the surface with a round of greaseproof paper, then cover the bowl with double-thickness greaseproof paper and foil and tie at the rim with string. Lower the pudding into a pan with an upturned saucer in the base, then fill with water until it comes halfway up the sides of the bowl. Steam for 6 hrs, topping up with water as necessary.

4. 4

   Alternatively, steam in the oven. Stand the pudding basin in a roasting tin filled with water, then cover with a tent of foil and cook for the same length of time at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Check roasting tin occasionally as the water may need to be topped up.

5. 5

   To store, allow to cool, then store in a cool, dry cupboard. The pudding will keep for up to a year.

6. 6

   On the day, steam for 1 hr before turning out, decorating with holly and serving with extra-thick double cream or vanilla ice cream. Alternatively check out this brown sugar brandy cream, or try my Orange custard cream (below).